Each year, over 50,000 children in the United States are adopted, and in the past decade, more than 400,000 children have found new homes through adoption. National Adoption Month offers a special opportunity to honor and celebrate these journeys, recognizing the strength of adoptive families and the resilience of children. We have curated a small offering of children’s books that shed light on and celebrate the experiences of adopted children and their families, highlighting diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences.
1. A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza
This endearing story follows Choco, a little bird searching for his mother. Choco meets various animals who offer to be his mother, but it’s a kind bear who adopts him. It helps children understand that family can be created through love and kindness, regardless of biological connections.
A Mother for Choco emphasizes the theme of adoption and belonging, fostering empathy and acceptance of different family structures.
Classroom Ideas: Share and discuss, without putting anyone on the spot, diverse family structures. Create opportunities for students, who are comfortable, to discuss and map out some of the relationships that build their support system. Have students create a work of art that describes what makes their family special.
2. The Family Book by Todd Parr
This colorful book celebrates all types of families, including those formed through adoption. The Family Book acknowledges the diversity and uniqueness of families while emphasizing the love that binds them together. Books like this can promote inclusivity, understanding, and belonging as they reflect students’ own families and introduce them to other situations.
Classroom Ideas: Create a class book where students draw and write about their own families, or families from stories they have read, celebrating the diverse forms of family love.
3. Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale by Karen Katz
This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a young child’s journey through the adoption process, capturing the excitement and emotions involved. It provides a positive perspective on adoption and the joy of finding a forever family. Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale offers insight into the adoption process from a child’s perspective, helping both adopted children and their peers understand and empathize with others.
Classroom Ideas: Have students write or draw about their unique family experiences. Facilitate a discussion about adoption pulling from students (if they are comfortable and willing) or a family or friends adoption journeys.
4. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
This well-known book tells the story of Unhei, a young Korean girl who is adopted by an American family and struggles with her new identity. Unhei’s beautiful journey of finding acceptance while staying true to herself can help children understand the challenges of cultural adjustment and the importance of embracing one’s heritage. The focus on finding your place in a new family fosters empathy for adopted children and anyone who is working to define their cultural and personal identity.
Classroom Ideas: Discuss cultural identity and the importance of names including what they mean to their holder and those that love them and how they are pronounced. Create an opportunity for students to make name jars of their own.
5. The Best Family in the World by Susana Lopez with Illustrations by Ulises Wensell
The Best Family in the World revolves around a young girl who learns that her family, though unconventional, is unique and special. It addresses themes of family diversity and acceptance through a humorous and heartfelt narrative. This story promotes acceptance and pride in one’s family, regardless of how it differs from others.
Classroom Ideas: Host a Family Celebration Day where students share stories and projects about their families, highlighting what makes each one special.
6. All Kinds of Families by Suzanne Lang with Illustrations by Max Lang
This book celebrates LGBTQ+ families through the stories of different families and their unique dynamics. It highlights how love and care are the core of all families. It provides representation and validation for LGBTQ+ families in a time when many are under political attack. All Kinds of Families: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Families is a great place to begin loving, respectful discussions about LGBTQ+ family units.
Classroom Ideas: Facilitate a discussion on family diversity and inclusivity. Have students create posters celebrating different types of families and what makes each one special.
These books provide a wonderful starting point for celebrating National Adoption Month in the classroom. By engaging with these stories, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse and loving nature of families formed through adoption and other means.
